Device for use in practicing the game of golf



April 7, 1925.

c. G. BORTHWACK DEVICE Foa usr; 1N PRACTICING THE GAME oF GOLF Filed Aun'. 29.

Patented `Apr. 7, 1925.

carrefo- Simms CRAIG-1E GYLE onrnwron, or. Erin-seinen, seo'rLAivn.`

DEVICE For; USE nv nnaofrrcrns'rnn Garan or: GOLF..

Application filed AngustZB; 1923.

To all 107mm it may 00m-era.' f

Be it known thatfI, CRAIGIE GYLE BoarnwIoK. a subject* ofthe King;l of` Great Britain and Ireland, residing" at Kinneill Vitorlrs, Uorstorphine, Edinburgh, county of Midlothian, Scotland, have invented new and useful Improvementsin a- Device for Use in Practicing the Game of Grolf,` of which the following` is a specification.

My said invention has for its object'to provide a simple and'inexpensive device for use in practicing' the gaine of golf, whereby if the headl of the club; when driving7 or the like, doesnot swing, or pass, through a. predetermined: pat-h, ity contactswith one or more flexible and vibratory projections, positioned round said path, and so as to indicate to the player the error, or errors, in the swing of the club. y

In carrying out my invention according;` to one simple example, the device consists of a horizontal oblong frame provided with a mat of any soft or flexible material, and

also a disc or half sphere, to represent a ball, with a flexible connection, so that when struck it will turn over into a recess formed `for it, or a captive ball may be used. On each side of the frame brackets are arranged with inwardly projecting* and adjustable parts, and also with downwardly projecting and adjustable parts, and one set of these parts may be arranged directly in advance of the position of the ball.l and the other set some distance in the rear of the ball.

In order that mv said invention and the manner of performing' the same may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to in describing; my invention.

Figures 1, and 2, are respectively a plan, and a side elevation of the improved device, Figure 3. is an end elevation. Figures 4, and 6, are respectively a plan, side elevation and an end elevation of the bracket or holder for supporting the horizontal and depending adjustable parts, drawn to a larger size. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings, the device consists of a horizontal oblong frame 1. provided with a mat 2, and also a flexible disc 3, to represent a ball, so that when struck it will turn over into a. recess f1, formed for it in the mat 2. Instead of the disc 3, a captive ball may be emseriai rrn.- sooner.

projecting', vibratory andradjustable parts 13, and 14. One set of tl'iese'parts beingpositioned in advance of the `position'` of the disc 3, and the other set some distance in tne rear of said disc. f

rlhe distance betwcenthe opposingA ends of the parts 9, andl 111, is preferably greater than that between the parts 10 and 12, andl the lower end of the depending part 13, is higher than thatl of the depending part 14, so as to coincide with the curvature or arc described by the head of the club. To avoid excessive swine; of the parts 9, and 10, tapered blocksl 9, and 10a, are provided.

' llhc arrow. in Figure 1, indicates the direc- -tion in which the club head is traveling.

A preferred form of bracket, or holder, is shown in Figures L1, 5, and 6, in which'the inwardly projecting parts 11, and 12, are held in a clip 15, by a pinching screw 16, and the supporting arms 17, and 18, of the 'depending partslS, and 14, are respectively held in an aperature of an upwardly extending' member 19, by a pinchingv screw 20.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to any lparticular number kof these inwardly j brojectiine` parts, as the characteristic feature of my invention consists in so positioning them relative to the ball, or disc S, that a more or less perfect swing,`

' is essential to avoid contacting with any one or more of the said projecting parts,-in other words, if a perfect swing is imparted to the club then the path of its head is un obstructed, on the other hand if lthe swing of the club is faulty, its head contacts with one or more of the projecting parts, and the position of the latter indicates the error, or errors, in the swing. For example, if the club head is too high it'will Contact with one or other, or both, of the depending members 13, and 14, whereas if the club head is too low it will contact with the mat 2, in advance of the ball, and if too much to either side of a line drawn through the centre of the disc 3, it will contact with one or more of the cross members 9, 10, 11, and 12.

rIhe device is used as follows z-The frame is placed'on the floor, or ground, andv the player takes up a. position which in herj or his, opinion, will ensure a correct drive. Thel club is then swung in the usual manner, and if after striking the ball, and the swing more or less completed, without contacting with any of the projecting parts, on the frame, then it is assumed that a correct swing and drive has been made. rllhe projecting. parts 9, 10, ll, 12, 13 and 14, are made adjustable, for example, tofallow of a certain latitude, which. can be gradually reduced as' the player becomes'more proficient.

Vhat I claim is:- l. A device for use in practicing the game of golf, consisting` of a frame provided with a disc or captive ball,vmeans for supporting two cross members positioned inthe` rear of the ball and spaced apart and two cross members positioned yin 4advance of lthe ball and spaced apart, and two depending memers similarly positioned but at different levels, so that when a true swing is imparted to the 'club its head will describe an arc lying between the cross and depending members. a part without contacting with the frame or thereon substitially as setforth.

2. A device for use in practicing' the game of golf, comprising a target, a plurality of inwardly projecting and depending flexible part-s, the ends of said partslying inan arc covering said target. t l v l3. A. leyice for use in practicing thegame ofgolf, comprising an oblong frame, af pair or brackets` at each sideof said frame, a target disposed within the frame, elongated members adjustably supported insaid bracln ets and extending; into the frame, curvedk posts supported by the brackets at one side of the frame and extendingover said kframe7 and elongated members adjustably v supported by vandl depending Jfrom the freeends o'fsaidposts, the ends of the elongated menig bers and the depending members lyingin an arc coyering .said target.

ln testimony whereof Ihave signed my name'to this specification.

cnaisin erm@ Bonfrnwion.- 

